Rockford aldermen OK self-limiting ordinances pertaining to home rule

Rockford aldermen vote for self-limiting ordinances that would regulate property tax increases if the city were to be under home rule again.

Voters will decide whether to restore home rule during the March 20 primary election.

Much of the discussion ahead of that vote has circulated around taxes, specifically property taxes and whether city leaders would push for them to increase. To ease concerns, Rockford aldermen have approved self-limiting ordinances that would make it so they would not be able to raise property taxes higher than what is allowed under non-home rule areas.

On top of that, any home rule sales tax or property tax increase would need a super majority vote by City Council.

The city says these safeguards are to ease voters minds ahead of the home rule vote, and to put safeguards to power in place for city leaders.